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Contamination profiles and risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater in China

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Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have attracted attention due to the potential risk they pose to ecosystems and human health. A total of 169 groundwater samples were collected from four representative regions in order to analyze PFASs concentrations in China. The total concentration of PFASs (∑PFASs) in groundwater ranged from 0.05 to 198.80 ng L−1, with an average of 3.97 ng L−1. All targeted PFASs were detected in the studied areas. The detection frequency and average concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the highest (79.29% and 1.61 ng L−1, respectively). The contamination profiles of PFASs in each study area varied due to natural geographical conditions and human activities. According to the results of the potential source identification, the point sources of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were mainly concentrated in Lanzhou, and the distribution of PFASs was slightly affected by atmospheric deposition in all the studied areas. The obtained concentrations of PFOA and PFOS may pose no threat to the residents due to water consumption.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Special Research Funding for the Public Benefits sponsored by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of PRC (201409029) and the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (No. 2017ZX07401004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 10012, China

    Xiaocui Qiao, Lixin Jiao, Xiaoxia Zhang, Xue Li, Shuran Hao & Yan Liu

  2. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Xiaocui Qiao, Lixin Jiao, Xiaoxia Zhang, Xue Li, Shuran Hao & Yan Liu

  3. Environmental Engineering and Science Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0012, USA

    Minghao Kong

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  1. Xiaocui Qiao
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  2. Lixin Jiao
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  3. Xiaoxia Zhang
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Correspondence to Yan Liu.

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Qiao, X., Jiao, L., Zhang, X. et al. Contamination profiles and risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater in China. Environ Monit Assess 192, 76 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-8005-z

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